CBS reporter Jeff Goodman wrote Thursday on Twitter -- but not in his story on CBS' website about Birch's future -- his sources told him that said Missouri was the only school Pitt denied a release for Birch to attend.

Haith, however, said Missouri had made no contact with Birch and had done nothing in regards to Birch that would warrant a tampering allegation.

A 6-9, 220-pound import from Montreal who made McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, Birch announced in mid-December he would leave Pitt after playing in only 10 games. Birch said Thursday that he had narrowed his list of possible transfer destinations to six and hopes to start visiting those schools soon.

Birch, the highest-ranked recruit ever signed by Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, told CBS that he will transfer to Florida, UNLV, Gonzaga, Washington, Xavier or New Mexico State.

Birch said he didn't leave Pitt in a rush to the NBA or over any sort of personality dispute with Dixon. Instead, it was simply about his role. Dixon wanted Birch to play in the post, and Birch preferred to work on his perimeter skills.

"I want to play more (power forward)," Birch told CBS. "That's one of the main reasons I went to Pittsburgh in the first place. I know I don't have the four-man skills yet, but I want to develop them."

Birch averaged 4.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for Pitt but showed flashes of being a dominant force. In his first start, he had 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against Penn. In his second, he had eight points, 11 rebounds and six blocks against Robert Morris. However, those were the only two games in which he played more than 17 minutes.

"Coach Dixon is a great coach and a terrific person," Birch said. "I just didn't think it was the best place for me.”